"Will undoubtedly become a standard work of reference."-Journal of Hellenic Studies

"The quality of Greek painting and the intrinsic interest of the figure subjects chosen for depiction were never greater than in Athens in the fifty years following the invention of the `red figure' technique in about 530 BC. This is the period covered by this book, a sequel to Athenian Black Figure Vases also written by John Boardman, Lincoln Professor Emeritus of Classical Archaeology and Art in Oxford."--Back cover.

Discusses the historical and artistic aspects of Athenian red figure vases of the classical period through the fourth century

Red-Figured Athenian Vases in the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a descriptive catalogue of the more important red-figured Athenian vases in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. This book is written to serve as a general handbook on red-figured vases. 173 vases are featured and arranged chronologically with special emphasis placed on the styles of the various painters. Descriptive texts preceed each time period while drawings and photographs elucidate the vases decoration.

"The catalogue ... is truly excellent and makes an important contribution to the study of Greek Art." --Bryn Mawr Classical Review "An overwhelming volume. The subject matter ... is described in great detail in nine chapters. Essential." --Choice This catalogue documents a major exhibition at the Getty Villa that was the first ever to focus on ancient Athenian terracotta vases made by techniques other than the well-known black- and red-figure styles. The exhibition comprised vases executed in bilingual, coral-red gloss, outline, Kerch-style, white ground, and Six's technique, as well as examples with added clay and gilding, and plastic vases and additions. The Colors of Clay opens with an introductory essay that integrates the diverse themes of the exhibition and sets them within the context of vase making in general; a second essay discusses conservation issues related to several of the techniques. A detailed discussion of the techniques featured in the exhibition precedes each section of the catalogue. More than a hundred vases from museums in the United States and Europe are described in depth.

This volume completes a series of four titles which comprehensively cover the development of Greek vases.